Folding canopy chair

ABSTRACT

A folding chair includes a canopy which is stabilized in a front to back longitudinal direction using stiff segments which can be folded laterally, and a canopy supported from a pivoting back support with a bracket support which is preferably a multi-detent bracket support which can angularly adjust, upon manual movement by the user to react to changing light conditions. The user can pull the canopy to angle down to block light and wind, or the user can push the canopy to angle up to form a more open appearance while still receiving some benefits from the canopy.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a number of advantageous structures anddevices which may be employed in a folding chair to enable foldablestowability in conjunction with other structural advantages and moreparticularly to a stowable canopy which has rigidity in one directionand which acts to provide stability in the stowed and deployedpositions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Several known folding chairs have been in commercial use and whichenable compact stowage while providing a wide and deep comfortable chairupon deployment. Some chairs use an independent cover for carriage,while others have canopies which assist in forming a stable stowedcarriage device. Where the cover is attempted to be used for thecarrying of the stowed chair, it can take on a shape which isincompatible with the stowably folded chair. The canopy cover lacksstability typically because it has to be flexible enough to operate withstructures which deploy the canopy. In most cases the canopy coversimply does not fit well with the chair and significant force bearsagainst the canopy cover when the chair is in the stowed position.

Another problem is with the canopy stability when the chair is in adeployed configuration. The provision of supports which adequatelyenable the canopy to both be stable and fully deployed is difficult andcan result in poor support while serving the ability of the chair to bedeployed and stowed. Most deployable chairs must expand and contractlaterally and lengthwise, fore and aft. Providing adequate support whileretaining the ability to deploy and stow is a continuing problem.

What is needed is a folding chair which provides a canopy which isreinforced in such a way that sturdiness is not compromised by theability to foldably stow and re-deploy. Further, what is also needed isan ability for forming a carryable stowage cover which will be stableand which can stabilize the stowably folded chair in a stable manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A folding chair includes a canopy which is stabilized in a front to backlongitudinal direction using stiff segments which can be foldedlaterally. Reinforcing members are typically surrounded by finishedlayers on either broad side which envelope the reinforcing members andhelp define the extent of folding that segments of the canopy canundergo, either during deployment of the folding chair 121 or duringstowed, folded carriage. This design provides a front to back foldedsegments which are rigidly reinforced so that no folding can occur frontto back. Lateral folding can occur along defined folding boundaries ofthe segments. This rigidity in one direction allows for a strongercanopy while allowing the collapsible support to concentrate on lateralstowage-ability variation.

The canopy is supported from a pivoting back support with a bracketsupport which is preferably an angular fixation fitting and which may beeither a multi-detent bracket support or a friction fitting. Acenter-front locking brace can be optionally activated to fullylaterally deploy the canopy. The combination of the canopy support andcenter-front locking brace, along with the front to back stiffenedpanels provides a well supported canopy. Further, the multi-detentbracket support enables the canopy to angularly adjust, upon manualmovement by the user to react to changing light conditions. The user canpull the canopy to angle down to block light and wind, or the user canpush the canopy to angle up to form a more open appearance while stillreceiving some benefits from the canopy.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention, its configuration, construction, and operation will bebest further described in the following detailed description, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the chair of the invention seenin foldably stowed position;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the chair member shown indeployed position and illustrating a frontal stable cross fitting andillustrating the canopy in a vertical position and behind the chair'sback;

FIG. 3 is a view looking into the canopy of the chair of FIGS. 1 & 2,with the main chair eliminated from view to be able to view the canopymore clearly during pre deployment and prior to an optional locking ofthe mid-frontal cross brace;

FIG. 4 is a view looking into the canopy of the chair of FIGS. 1-3 andfrom the same perspective as seen in FIG. 3, but illustrating the canopymore clearly during full deployment and illustrating the optionallocking of the mid-frontal cross brace;

FIG. 5 illustrates a multi-detent support brace with cover removed andshown in a variety of positions;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the left side of the chair back opposing theunderside of the canopy and with the multi-detent support brace in analmost nearly collapsed position;

FIG. 7 is a side view illustrating the vertical support having beenbrought parallel and generally even with the back support and engaging apressure clamp to hold it in a stable vertical position, with the canopybeing shown as generally horizontal and supported by the multi-detentsupport brace in a horizontal position;

FIG. 8 illustrates the multi-detent support brace adjusted to a positionenabling the canopy to angle upward with respect to the verticalsupport; and

FIG. 9 illustrates the multi-detent support brace adjusted to a positionenabling the canopy to angle downward with respect to the verticalsupport;

FIG. 10 is a view looking into line 10-10 of FIG. 3, and illustratesreinforcement members which enable front to back rigidity and stiffnessof the canopy member whether deployed as a sun canopy or whether usedfor stowed carriage as was seen in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 11 illustrates a perspective view of the folding chair deployedwith its canopy deployed and illustrating the overall shape and supportof the top canopy and folds which occur along lengthwise lines, as wellas the carrying strap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The description, construction and operation of the sealing system of theinvention will be best illustrated by beginning with reference to FIG. 1illustrates a perspective view of a folding chair 21 shown in stowed andcarrying position. A covering canopy includes side flaps 23 and 25 witha closure structure 27 shown in phantom since it sits at the interfacebetween the side flaps 23 and 25. The closure structure 27 can be snaps,buttons, slide locks, zipper, magnetic or hook and loop connectors. Thefolding chair 21 preferably has a carrying handle or strap on the sideof the stowed portable folding chair 21 seen in FIG. 1. The preferredstructures for carriage would either be a strap on the side of thefolding chair 21 opposite that seen in FIG. 1, or by a pair of handleswhich meet at the overlap of side flaps 23 and 25 to further reinforcethe closure of side flaps 23 and 25.

At the bottom of the folding chair 21 a set of four pivot feet 31 areseen. Each of the pivot feet 31 is set to pivotably support a pair ofsupport members 33. The pivot feet also include utility fittings 35 forinterfitting of rear vertical supports 37, one of which is seen inFIG. 1. Even though only two of the pivot feet 31 have the verticalsupports 37, it enables the use of four of the same type of pivot feet31 in the same folding chair 21. At the top of the folding chair 21, apair of laterally displaceable canopy struts 38 and 39 are seen whichmay have protective end caps 41. Also seen is a right side chair backupright 43 and a left side chair back upright 45.

Referring to FIG. 2, a perspective view of the folding chair 21 is seenwith a chair member 49 shown in front of the canopy member 51, whichincludes the side flaps 23 and 25 previously seen. Several additionaldetails are seen including a front capture fitting 55 which not onlyhelps guide the support members 33 at the front of the folding chair 21,but helps structurally support the two front support members againstweight of a user of the folding chair 21, especially where the userleans forward. Front capture fitting 55 also wraps around and cradles aportion of the pivoting support member 33 adjacent the front capturefitting 55 and lends further support by limiting the pivotingdisplacement between the pivoting support member 33 to which the capturefitting is attached and the pivoting support member 33 which can pivotinto a position supported and cradled by the capture fitting 55. Thefitting 55 could be used at any pivot point of any two of the supportmembers 33, but is most preferentially used at the front where the mostweight and stress is expected to occur. Other chair features seeninclude an expanse of back and seat material 57, suspended chair armmaterial 59, and drink holder 61.

At the rear of the chair member 49, parts of the canopy member 51 can beseen, including closure structure 27 which is seen in FIG. 2 as an areaof hook members 65 which are positioned to interfit with an area of feltmembers 67 seen in dashed line format as being on the other side of sideflap 23. A left one of a pair of forward lateral straps 71 and the leftone of a pair of rearward lateral straps 73 is seen. In some cases itmay be possible to replace the forward lateral straps 71 with one strap71 extending across the width of the canopy member 51, as well as onerearward lateral strap 73 to replace the pair of rearward lateral straps73. The canopy strut 39 is seen as having a fitting 75 which engages theforward left lateral strap 71. The use of the fitting 75, and anotherfitting not seen in FIG. 2, helps to set the forward and rearward extentof movement of the canopy member 51 with regard to the pair of laterallydisplaceable canopy struts 38 and 39.

A pair of end pivoting vertical supports 77 are seen pivotably connectedto a pair of the vertical supports 37, with the end pivoting verticalsupports 77 seen in a vertical down position in FIG. 2. The end pivotingvertical supports 77 can be pivoted to a vertical up position where theyare captured by “C” shaped pressure clamps 79 which are also supportedby the vertical supports 37. The “C” shaped pressure clamps 79 have theopen member of the “C” directed rearward and give the canopy member 51good forward bearing ability.

Also seen is a multi-detent angular fixation fitting 81 which hasterminal ends connected to the end pivoting vertical supports 77 and tothe laterally displaceable canopy strut 39. Another multi-detent angularfixation fitting 81 is located at the other side of the folding chair21. Also seen is a lock fitting 83 attached to canopy strut 39. Alsoseen is an area of mesh material 85 which connects the chair member 49and canopy member 51 and can be used for storage when the folding chair21 is deployed.

Referring to FIG. 3 a view looking into the canopy member 51 of thechair of FIGS. 1 & 2, with the main chair member 49 eliminated from viewto be able to view the canopy member 51 more clearly, and shown in aposition just before pre deployment and prior to an optional locking ofthe mid-frontal cross brace which is seen as having a pair of pivotingstruts 93 joined at central pivot connection 95.

FIG. 3 is also advantageous in illustrating the operation of the foldingchair 21. As the chair member 49 is deployed, the end pivoting verticalsupports 77, which are pivotably attached to the upper ends of the rearvertical supports 37, begin to spread apart. This spreading istransmitted through the vertical support 77 canopy strut pivot fittings99. The canopy strut pivot fittings 99 are connected to the pair oflaterally displaceable canopy struts 38 and 39. As the end pivotingvertical supports 77 move apart, the pair of laterally displaceablecanopy struts 38 and 39 begin to move apart, but underneath rearwardlateral strap 73 at the rear (lower as seen in FIG. 3) canopy member 51,and as constrained by the combination of the fitting 75 and forwardlateral strap 71 at the forward (upper as seen in FIG. 3) canopy member51. The mid-frontal cross brace including pair of pivoting struts 93joined at central pivot connection 95 move passively to form a shallowangle with respect to each other. The angularity of the mid-frontalcross brace provides additional support to the top of the canopy membereven in an angular relationship. Also seen in FIG. 3 is an optionalclear sunroof 101 which may have a closable sun-blocking member, andwhich is used to admit some light into the canopy. The clearness of thesunroof 101 can range from completely clear to shaded and may includeultraviolet blocking or a color filtering/admittance effect.

Referring to FIG. 4, it can be seen that the pair of laterallydisplaceable canopy struts 38 and 39 have moved to a position of theirmutual maximum relative displacement, and that a user had grasped thecentral pivot connection 95 and moved it rearward (down with respect toFIG. 4) to lock the pair of pivoting struts 93 into a linearrelationship and to provide forward separation force for the pair ofpivoting struts 93. It is noted that the force of separation wouldotherwise only be provided through fittings 99. The mid-frontal crossbrace including pair of pivoting struts 93 joined at central pivotconnection 95 provide additional, user controllable separation stabilityat the front of the canopy member 51. Also, FIG. 4 omits the optionalsunroof 101.

Referring to FIG. 5 a multi-detent angular fixation fitting 81 isillustrated in greater detail. The multi-detent angular fixation fitting81 may include detents at only the extreme most angularly expandedposition or it may include further detent positions including theextreme most acute angular position and positions in between. Severalangles are shown between a canopy brace 103 and a vertical support brace105. A pivot 107 and a cover 109 is shown. Cover 109 helps isolate thedetent mechanism associated with the pivot 107 from contact with theuser.

Referring to FIGS. 6-9, a series of side views illustrate the operationof the canopy member 51 with respect to the chair member 49 toillustrate the relative positions and options for deployment of thecanopy member 51. Only the rear of the chair member 49 to which the endpivoting vertical supports 77 are attached will be illustrated to focuson the dependence of the canopy member 51 and its pivoting connection tothe chair member 49.

Referring to FIG. 6, is a side view of the left side chair back upright45 and illustrating one of the end pivoting vertical supports 77pivotally attached to one of the rear vertical supports 37. Themulti-detent angular fixation fitting 81 and its pair of pivoting struts93 are seem in an almost parallel and closed position, the canopy strutpivot fitting 99 similarly bringing the laterally displaceable canopystrut 39 closer to the rear vertical supports 37 of the folding chair21. Note that the pivot point 107 located within the cover 109 opposesand is displaced from the canopy strut pivot fitting 99 when the canopymember 51 is in its “closed” position. Note that the cover 109 enables agreater angle of closure than is seen in FIG. 6. FIG. 6, however,depicts the position that the canopy member 51 might assume behind afully deployed chair member 49. In this relaxed position, the area ofmesh material 85 forms a fold and the area between the expanse of backand seat material 57 and the canopy member 51 can be used to temporarilystore the user's belongings.

Also seen in FIG. 6 is that the unfolding or angular displacement of thecanopy strut 39 with respect to the vertical support 77 can occurindependently of whether the vertical supports 77 is pivoted upward intoa position to engage the “C” shaped pressure clamps 79. This also opensthe possibility of the folding down of the canopy member 51 and pair oflaterally displaceable canopy struts 38 and 39 for a number of purposes,including keeping the canopy member as a storage area, or forstabilizing the folding chair 21 against the wind and the like. Thisposition, where the end pivoting vertical supports 77 are generallyvertical while the top of the canopy member 51 is brought to ahorizontal position is not shown in FIG. 6 or the subsequent figures.

Referring to FIG. 7, the canopy member 51 is shown in deployed positionwith respect to the chair member 49. The end pivoting vertical supports77 have been pivoted to a generally vertical position where they arecaptured by the “C” shaped pressure clamps 79 to hold the end pivotingvertical supports 77 in place. Simultaneously, the user can begin toangularly open the canopy member 51 with respect to the end pivotingvertical supports 77 by causing the fitting 81 to open. Where thefitting 81 opened sufficiently so that the canopy member 51 achieves asubstantially right angled position with respect to end pivotingvertical supports 77, this can be considered a neutral position and isshown in FIG. 7. It is preferable that the fitting 81 have at least oneforce detent position at a neutral orientation as seen in FIG. 7.

In the position shown in FIG. 7, the user can simply push the canopymember 51 rearward even without changing the position of the fitting 81to simply have the canopy member 51 pivot out of its neutral position byhaving the vertical slots 77 simply slip out of the “C” shaped pressureclamps 79 to allow the canopy member 51 to pivot to a position seen inFIG. 6, but where the canopy member 51 maintains its right angle withrespect to the end pivoting vertical supports 77. The user need onlyreach back and flip the end pivoting vertical supports 77 back to aposition to be engaged by the “C” shaped pressure clamps 79 to re-engagethe canopy member 51.

Referring to FIG. 8, an illustration of the movement of multi-detentangular fixation fitting 81 to a position enabling the canopy member 51to achieve an upward angle with respect to the end pivoting verticalsupports 77 is shown. During this adjustment, the vertical supports arenot moved from their “C” shaped pressure clamps 79. The user simply actsto lift the canopy member 51 to an upward position to cause themulti-detent angular fixation fitting 81 to readjust to either an upwarddetent position or to one of a number of upward detent positions.

Referring to FIG. 9, an illustration of the movement of multi-detentangular fixation fitting 81 to a position enabling the canopy member 51to achieve a downward angle with respect to the end pivoting verticalsupports 77 is shown. As was the case in FIGS. 7 and 8, the user,without removing the vertical supports from their “C” shaped pressureclamps 79, simply pulls the canopy member 51 downward to cause themulti-detent angular fixation fitting 81 to readjust to either adownward detent position or to one of a number of downward detentpositions. The ability to more finely adjust the canopy member 51enables the user to better control the light and wind while seated inthe folding chair 21.

Referring to FIG. 10, a view looking into line 10-10 of FIG. 3, and onlythrough the material of the canopy member 51, is shown. As can be seen,the view is from front to back and illustrates a series of reinforcingmembers 121 within a finished material exterior 123 which may be sewablyattached to either or both itself and the reinforcing members 121. Thereinforcing members 121 add longitudinal (front to back) stability tothe folding chair 21 during stowable folding or during canopydeployment. Where the optional sunroof 101 is desired, the necessarystructure can be achieved by providing an opening on aligned portions ofthe finished material exterior 123 and substituting a clear, tinted, orUV filtering reinforcing member 121 at the center middle of the canopymember 51.

Referring to FIG. 11, a perspective view of the folding chair 21deployed with its canopy member 51 deployed and illustrating the overallshape and support of the top canopy and folds which occur alonglengthwise lines, as well as a carrying strap 131 on a main extent ofthe canopy member 51 is seen. The side flaps 23 and 25 are seengenerally angled downwardly due to the construction details seen in FIG.10. The use of longitudinal lengths of reinforcing members 121 whoseinterruption and securing by the finished material exterior 123 help tocontrol the shape of the canopy member 51. The pair of pivoting struts93 and central pivot connection 95 only had to control the main lateralextent of the canopy member 51, and thus eliminated is the need tocontrol the canopy member 51 front to back.

As has been shown, the user has the ability to adjust the angle of thecanopy member 51 over several different angular positions when thecanopy member 51 is engaged. Further, the independent mounting of thecanopy member 51 enables the user to easily flip the whole canopy member51 completely rearward and out of the way. The rearward position can beselected to enable the canopy member 51 to achieve either a horizontaland rearwardly extending position, or a generally vertical positionpartially enveloping a storage space similar to that seen in FIG. 6.

While the present invention has been described in terms of a foldingchair with canopy for providing compact folding and carriage and a frontto back reinforced members to give enhanced stability in both thestowably folded carriage position as well as the deployed position wherethe canopy member and chair member are ready for use, one skilled in theart will realize that the structure and techniques of the presentinvention can be applied to many structures, including any structure ortechnique where a sturdy use of materials are to be employed forstructural enhancement in both the deployed and stowably carriedposition.

Although the invention has been derived with reference to particularillustrative embodiments thereof, many changes and modifications of theinvention may become apparent to those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore,included within the patent warranted hereon are all such changes andmodifications as may reasonably and properly be included within thescope of this contribution to the art.

1. A portable folding chair comprising: a folding chair member having afirst and a second rear vertical support and a plurality of centerpivoting support members supported by pivot feet; a first end pivotingvertical supports each having a first end pivotally connected to thefirst rear vertical support and a second end; a second end pivotingvertical supports each having a first end pivotally connected to thesecond rear vertical support and a second end; a first laterallydisplaceable canopy strut having a first end pivotally connected to thesecond end of the first pivoting vertical support; a second laterallydisplaceable canopy strut having a first end pivotally connected to thesecond end of the second pivoting vertical support; a first angularfixation fitting having a first end connected to the first pivotingvertical support and a second end connected to the first laterallydisplaceable canopy strut, to set the angular displacement between thefirst pivoting vertical support and the first laterally displaceablecanopy strut; a second angular fixation fitting having a first endconnected to the second pivoting vertical support and a second endconnected to the second laterally displaceable canopy strut, to set theangular displacement between the second pivoting vertical support andsecond laterally displaceable canopy strut a canopy member engaged bythe first and second laterally displaceable canopy struts.
 2. Theportable folding chair as recited in claim 1 and wherein the canopymember includes at least a first laterally extending strap for engagingat least one of the first and second laterally displaceable canopystruts.
 3. The portable folding chair as recited in claim 1 and whereinthe first and second angular fixation fittings are detent fittings. 4.The portable folding chair as recited in claim 1 and wherein the firstand second angular fixation fittings are friction fittings.
 5. Theportable folding chair as recited in claim 1 and further comprising afirst pivoting strut having a first end pivotally connected to the firstlaterally displaceable canopy strut and a second end, and a secondpivoting strut having a first end pivotally connected to the secondlaterally displaceable canopy strut and a second end, the second ends ofthe first and second pivoting struts being connected by a central pivotconnection, the combination of the first and second pivoting struts andcentral pivot connection to reinforce and fix a lateral position of thefirst pivoting strut with respect to the second pivoting struts tofurther stabilize the canopy member.
 6. The portable folding chair asrecited in claim 1 and wherein the canopy portion includes a sunroofopening for admitting light.
 7. The portable folding chair as recited inclaim 1 and wherein the canopy portion includes a plurality ofreinforcing members 121 enveloped by a finished material to control theaxis of folding and the direction in which stability is established.